NEW PRINCIPAL HAPPY TO BE A LION

    Abby Kwasniewski may be a former Webster Bearcat, but she’s thrilled about her new role as a Langford Area Lion. Known to students as “Mrs. K,” she is stepping in as the new middle school and high school principal at LA, happy to be working just a short drive from home.
    Originally Abby Tracy, she was born in Watertown and spent most of her formative years in Webster, graduating from high school in 2004. Before graduating, she joined the South Dakota Army National Guard and, following initial training, attended Northern State University for a time. Unsure of her long-term career path, she eventually took a break from school.
    In 2010, Kwasniewski resumed her studies through the University of South Dakota, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and addiction studies with a specialty in treatment and prevention. She worked in the Aberdeen and Webster areas after receiving her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling before shifting toward education, taking a position as student services advisor in the Waubay School District. She later served as a school counselor in Waverly/South Shore while completing her master’s in leadership and administration.
    When the Langford Area principal position opened late last year, she felt a strong pull to apply. She was hired soon after, marking her first official role as a principal. Asked why she chose education, she said, “It’s an area where you can have a big impact on lives in a meaningful way.”
    Kwasniewski started in her new role late this summer and is eager to see the hallways filled with students once again. She especially values the small-town environment. “I am a small-town girl at heart,” she said. “I don’t think I would enjoy being an educator in a bigger town.”
    Alongside her administrative duties, Mrs. K will also spend time in the classroom, teaching service leadership to seniors during the first semester and life skills to sixth graders in the second. Her educational philosophy centers on “empathy, communication, and openness.” While her focus is on the older grades, she looks forward to getting to know students of all ages in the close-knit school.
    Outside of work, Kwasniewski enjoys time with her husband, Derek, and their two young children. The family’s favorite activities include drag racing, dune buggying, and four-wheeling.
    Looking ahead, she hopes Langford Area will be her professional home for years to come. “For me, this isn’t just a job. It is a calling,” she said. For now, she’s simply excited to welcome the new and returning Lions to the school year.